An off-duty special constable from Essex Police’s dog section “burst into action” to give first aid to a driver knocked unconscious in a road accident.

Sc Jason Grieve was working his day job as an estate manager in London when he and a colleague saw a car crash into a lamp post.

Together with a member of the public and two off-duty firefighters, he rushed to help, found the driver and passenger were injured and called for an ambulance.

Sc Grieve checked the driver’s airways, while the member of the public gave updates to a paramedic on the phone. He directed members of the public away from the lamp post, which had exposed live wires, until a fire crew arrived.

He said: “Many people when they see something like this want to help and having had the training and the experience that I have gained with Essex Police, I was able to assist the injured parties and work alongside my colleagues in the fire service while maintaining a safe environment until the emergency services arrived.

“My colleague was a little shocked though saying ‘you just burst into action’”

Sc Grieve has been a volunteer police officer for 15 years, two of which spent in the dog section, where he received specialist training.

Special constables have full police powers, uniforms and equipment but give their free time on a voluntary basis.

Visit Essex Police for details about the special constabulary.